Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote: Which is Best?

It’s strange to think about academic work before computers. Our predecessors wrote out their theses and dissertations long-hand, or typed them up on typewriters. They looked up sources in card catalogues at the library, and if an item they needed wasn’t physically located in the library, it took a massive effort to procure it. Then, when they came to cite those sources, they had to sit with a style manual and painstakingly write out each reference in full.

Thankfully, those days are in the past. We can look up almost any information in seconds, and cite our sources (relatively) easily using software programmes.

But it still takes a bit of effort to figure out which citation management software to use, and how to get the most out of it. EndNote, Zotero, and Mendeley are all popular options, but they all have different features and they all require some upskilling to use correctly. Sometimes, you’ll get familiar with one, and then realise it doesn’t work for you – so you need to learn another. (You can actually transfer content between these systems, so don’t fret if this is you.)

If you want to learn more about your options, come along to the new Library workshop next week: “Zotero, Mendeley, or EndNote – which is best?” You’ll get an overview of Zotero, Mendeley and EndNote, hear expert users discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and have an opportunity to try each product for yourself. At the end of the session you should be equipped to choose the citation manager that best meets your working style and current academic needs.

About Anaise Irvine

Dr Anaise Irvine is the Editor of Thesislink. She has a research background in science and narrative. Her PhD research analysed how contemporary films and novels represent genetic engineering as a social justice issue. She has previously researched fictional representations of evolution and quantum mechanics. She has taught such diverse texts as Blade Runner and Bridget Jones’s Diary, and her most obscure skill is being able to turn novels into phylogenetic trees!